Mission Australia will hold its 36th yearly Christmas Lunch in the Park (CLIP) at Wellington Square Park in East Perth on Dec 25. The lunch, considered Perth's biggest Christmas Day charity event, is for isolated and lonely people and those without a family to spend the season with.

"CLIP is all about people coming together to enjoy a meal, entertainment and great companionship on Christmas Day," Mission Australia State Director Carmen Acosta said in a statement. She added the aim of the even is to bring the community together and share the Yuletide spirit.

Mining giant BHP Billiton will sponsor CLIP, its second year to do so. The co-sponsor of the event is BankWest.

Besides the donation from the two sponsors for CLIP, Mission Australia is open to donations to fund and keep the event going. People who want to spread the Christmas cheer through CLIP can call 9225 0411 or download a donation form from CLIP's Web site.

Events such as CLIP are timely in view of the growing pessimism among Australians. A recent survey found that 20 per cent of young Aussies want to cancel Christmas because it only makes them more miserable.

To further worsen the damp spirit felt by a growing number of young Australians, weather forecasts predict a wet Christmas Day because of the approach of a cyclone.

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